Easter 2012

 Well it's only been 4 1/2 months, but lets see what I can remember about our Easter trip to Utah.  We drove and Mitchell like usual needed lots of attention.  We gave Mitchy nebulizer breathing treatments (using a machine you blow medicine that evaporates into gas for 15-30 minutes), Jake turned around and took this picture because we thought it was so amazing we are able to do these in the car.  (Just FYI Jake said he would pay me $80 to get in the back and do it while driving so we wouldn't have to stop and could make great time.  I get so car sick I HATE riding in the back!  But I can easily be bribed with my own money... ha ha)

We stopped in Elko to stay the night and the kids slept great.  Aren't they cute asleep?

As we drove the final hours into Salt Lake City, Mitchell was burning up and acting almost comatose.  By the time we arrived at my parents, we dropped Jansen and Reesa off, threw their luggage on the driveway and headed straight to Primary Children's Hospital.  Jake was driving so fast we actually got pulled over and told the officer our kid was really sick, so he let us go.  (another miracle!) When we arrived at the ER Mitchell's fever was 106.7 F. They immediately started shock protocol took off all his clothes, gave him Tylenol oxygen and got a team to do an IV.  Mitchell has had so many IV's attempts in his life (maybe 200?) that we were sickend at the thought of having to try again for hours.  BUT our prayers being answered they had an IV team of 4 come and using a red light to illuminate the skin got his IV on the FIRST TRY!!! Neither Jake nor I could hold back the tears of gratitude and relief! 

Here's a Video of Jake making Mitchell laugh while waiting in the ER for lab results. 

 Five sleepless nights and days and one surgery later, we finally got outta there!  Jake and I joked that we were just staying at our time share in Utah.   OR  We went on vacation to try out another hospital.  Actually we couldn't have asked for a better place to be.  Everyone was so understanding and caring.  Mitchell had to spend Easter in the hospital and he got an Easter basket and tons of goodies.  Our other kids were having a great time with cousins and didn't seem to miss us too much.  We felt so lucky to have so much family around.  

Easter outfits, they didn't wear together...

 Aunt Delia came to visit, with Rachel & her husband, Joseph & his wife and Wade. So there was a full house!  It was nice for Jake to finally get to meet some of my Louisiana cousins.

 Zaylee, Grandma Sue, Cianna, and Zoey

Jansen loved being a big brother again...

 Gage, Beckhem, and Mitchell.  Beckhem was so worried about Mitchell, he is always asking to hold baby Mitchy, and is always found talking and playing with him!  I love it.  It just melts my heart to see kids trying to bond with this sweet sprit we have.  Mitchell is very unresponsive most of the time, and cries a lot so I often wonder who will still like him.  I feel so touched to have nieces and nephews who care so much about Mitchy.

 My mom watched Mitchy and Jake and I took all the little kids swimming!!!  Aren't we brave?!

So after our stressful hospital stay we headed back home!  It made Jake and I realize once again we might not have Mitchell with us forever and that we really need to cherish the daily opportunities we are having... even if sometimes they are painful.